Monorail switch



Nov. 19, 1940. R. E. NELLES MONORAIL SWITCH Filed Feb. 28, 19 39 2Sheets-Sheet l Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES MONOR-AIL SWITCHRussell E. Nelles, South Orange, N. J assignor to The UnionManufacturing Company, New Britain, C'onn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication February 28, 1939, Serial No. 258,983

18 Claims.

My invention relates to the class of apparatus that is employed forguiding load carrying trolleys from one monorail track to another asfrom a main trackto a switch track, and an object of my invention, amongothers, is to provide a structure for such purpose that shall be simplein construction, having a minimum number of working parts, that shalloccupy a comparatively small space, that may be operated withcomparative ease, and that generally shall be particularly efiicient inthe results obtained by its use.

One form of an apparatus embodying my invention and in the constructionand use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may

m be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigure l is a top plan view of my improved monorail switch.

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section on a plane denoted by the dottedline 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Figure 4 is a similar view on a plane denoted by the dotted line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Figure 5 is an isometric perspective view of a fragment of the switch.

Figure 6 is an isometric perspective view on enlarged scale of thecomplete switch structure.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 8 denotes the outer part of themain supporting 30 frame of my improved switchv that is of substantiallyparti-circular form, constructed preferably of angle-iron of anysuitable shape and comprises a vertical part 9 and a horizontal flangel9 constituting a track for a pivoted switch supporting member to behereinafter described. This frame 8 may be supported in any desiredmanner, as by means of suspension rods or other suitable devices commonto structures of this kind in a manner that will be readily understood40 by those skilled in the art and for which reason said rods are notillustrated in the drawings herein. This main supporting frame alsoincludes a cross bar I I preferably of angle-iron extending across theparti-circular portion of the frame at 45 about the termination thereof,as shown in Fig. 4

of the drawings, this cross bar being secured in any suitable manner, asby welding or otherwise, to the flange ll] of the frame member 8. A yokeI2 is also included in the main frame structure and is also preferablycomposed of angle-iron and as herein shown comprises two pieces ofL-shape backed together and secured at the flat surfaces thereof. Thebranches I3 of the yoke are secured in any suitable manner to the crossbar II intermediate its ends and to the frame member 8 at '24 rotatablymounted on journals 25 securedto about the center of the curve thereon.The cross bar I I of the yoke islocated above the members 8 and IIsufficiently to permit movement of, the switch. member hereinaftermentioned underneath said cross bar, as shown in Fig. 6. The r ends ofthe branches I3 of .the yoke are forked to receive the ends of the stemsof trunk line rails I and I5 extending in line with eachother but spacedapart as shown in Fig. 3. Hangers I] are secured to and extenddownwardly from the cross bar i l and the ends of the frame member 8,the ends of these hangers being forked to receive the stems of rails ofspur tracks I8 which'are secured in any suitable manner in said forks,bolts being shown herein for such purpose.

The switching member or inner switch frame of the switch comprises apivotally mounted supporting bar I9 and a curved swinging support atopposite ends of the section with a tie bar 2| connecting saidsupporting bar and swinging support. A pivot plate 22 is secured in anysuitable manner, as by welding or otherwise, to the cross bar I l andprojects from said bar between the supporting bar 59 and the tie bar 2!,a king bolt 23 extending through said tie bar, pivot plate, andsupporting bar I9, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby affording a pivotalsupport for the switching member. The swinging support 2i! is curved,preferably on the arc of a circle, and has wheels and extending througha vertical flange of the J swinging support 20.

The wheels 24 roll along the horizontal flange ID of the main supportingframe, as shown in Fig. 6. Hangers 26 are secured to'and depend from thesupporting bar I9 and similar hangers 21 are secured to and projectdownwardlyfrom the swinging support 2!], said hangers being forked attheir lower ends to receive the stems 28 of inverted T-shaped switchtongues 29 and 340 30, said hangers and 21 supporting opposite ends ofsaid tongues, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The switch tongue 29 isstraight to connect the trunk line tracks 55 and I6, and the switchtongues 36 are curved to connect a trunk line track with the curved spurtracks It. The horizontal flange on each side of each of said tracks andtongues provides a support for a trolley (not shown) carrying a load totravel alongsaid tracks and tongues from the trunk I5 to the trunk I6 orto either of the curved spur tracks I8 in a manner that will be readilyunderstood and for which reason a showing of said trolley is omittedherein, it being sufficient to state that it is provided with hoistingmeans for supporting and above set out.

carrying a load. The pivoted switch frame may be rotated from oneposition to another as by means of a switch actuating cord (not shown)attached to said frame and hanging in an accessible position foroperation by a person standing on the floor or ground underneath theswitch in a manner that will be readily understood, or

any other desired means for operating the switch frame may be employed.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6 the trolley maytravel from the trunk line track 15 along the switch tongue 29 to thetrunk line track l6, and when swung to other positions the trolley maytravel from the trunk line track along one of the curved switch tongues30 to one of the spur tracks l8, this condition being shown in Fig. 1.The pivoted switch frame may be locked in any of its positions in anysuitable manner common to suspended switch apparatus, such lockingdevices constituting no part of my present invention and therefore onlya meagre showing being illustrated herein and comprising a locking bolt3i, in this case carried by the pivoted frame, but which may be equallywell located on the stationary frame structure, such bolt to be operatedin any desired manner as by va flexiblemember depending into anaccessible position for manual operation, a spring common ,to suchstructures and therefore not shown herein, moving the bolt in onedirection, as for locking,

and the flexible member moving the bolt in an foppositedirectiomas forunlocking the switch.

While I have illustrated and described herein a single tie bar 2| forconnecting the bar l9 and swinging support 20, I contemplate that thestructure need not be confined to a single connecting member, but that aplurality of conmeeting members may be employed if desired and thatthese may be arranged in any suitable manner."

I also contemplate various arrangements of the switch tongues 29 and 30,all of which tongues maybe employed or some of which may be omitted tosuit any particular demands. For instance,

referring to'Fig. 4, the tongue 30 on the left may be omitted, therebyproviding what is known in the trade as a 2-way right-hand switchcomprising the straight tongue 29 and the other curved tongue 30, thelatter located on the right; by

omitting the tongue 30 on the right a 2-way left-hand switch will becreated comprising the straight tongue 29 and the curved tongue 30 onthe left; by omitting the straight tongue 29 a 2-way Y-type of switchwill be provided, and the complete arrangement shown in Fig. 4embodyinglthe three tongues will constitute a'3-way switch. In any ofthese arrangements the supporting frame would of course be curtailed toomit portions not required and thereby limit the size of the structure,which is a desirable feature.

1 In order to retain the switch tongues 30 in horizontal alignment withthe curved spur tracks "l8 a supporting plate 32 is secured in anysuitable'manner to the ends of the spur tracks and as shown particularlyin Fig. 6 of the drawings. In accordance with the provisions of thepatent statutes I have described the principles of operation of myinvention, together with the device which I now consider to representthe best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that thedevice shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carriedout by other means and applied to uses other than those I claim:

1. A multiple tongue monorail switch including 'an outer main supportingframe and an inner tongue supporting frame both located in the sameplane, said inner tongue supporting frame being pivotally attached toand encompased by said outer main supporting frame, a plurality ofswitchtongues suspended from said inner tongue supporting frame and alllocated in the same plane below the plane of said inner tonguesupporting frame, a trunk line rail positioned to deliver a trolley toeach of said tongues, the pivot for said inner tongue supporting framebeing located directly over the end of one of said tongues, therebyconstituting a pivot for the tongue structure at one end of one of saidtongues, and a plurality of rails each positioned to receive a trolleyfrom one of said switch tongues only.

2. A multiple tongue monorail switch including an outer main supportingframe and an inner tonguesupporting frame both located in the sameplane, said inner tongue supporting frame being pivotally attached toand encompassed by said outer main supporting frame, a straight switchtongue carried by said tongue supporting frame, a curved switch tonguecarried by said tongue supporting frame, both of said switch tonguesbeing suspended "from and located in a plane under said tonguesupporting frame, the pivot for said inner tongue supporting frame beinglocated directly over one end of one of said tongues, therebyconstituting a pivot for the tongue structure at one 'end of one of saidtongues, a main trunk rail positioned to register with said switchtongues, a second main trunk rail positioned to register with saidstraight tongue, anda spur track positioned to register with saidcurved'tongue,

3. A monorail switch including an outer supporting frame and anjnnerswitch frame both located in the same plane, said inner switchsupportingv frame being pivotally attached to and encompassed by saidouter supporting frame, switchtongues suspended from and carried by saidinner switchframe, all in the same plane below the plane of said innerswitch frame, and the pivot for said inner switch frame being locateddirectly over the end of one of said tongues, thereby constituting apivotfor the tongue structure at one end of one of said tongues, aplurality, of tracks having their ends supported by said outersupporting frame below the plane thereof and in position to registerwith said switch tongues, and a main trunk rail having its end supportedby said outer supporting frame below the plane thereof and in position..to be registered with any of said switch tongues.

4. A monorail switch including an outer supporting frame and an innerswitch frame both located in th'esame plane, said inner switchsupporting-frame being pivotally attached to and encompassed by saidouter supporting frame, a

tongues, and a main trunk rail having its end positionedto be registeredwith each of said switch tongues.

5. An outer supporting frame having a path of particular form and aninner switchframe, both located in the same plane, said inner switchframe being pivotally attached to and encompassed by said outersupporting frame, rollers on said inner switch frame positioned forsupport by and to travel on said parti-circular path, switch tonguescarried by said inner switch frame, all in the same plane below theplane of said inner switch frame and the pivot for said inner switchframe being located directly over the end of one of said tongues,thereby constituting a pivot for the tongue structure at one end of oneof said tongues, a plurality of tracks each having an end positioned forregistry with one of said switch tongues, and a main trunk rail havingan end positioned to be registered with each of said switch tongues.

6. A 3-way monorail switch including an outer supporting frame composedof a parti-eircular outer member having its free ends connected by across member, a hanger depending from the center of said cross member, atrunk line having one end supported by said hanger, a hanger dependingfrom the center of said parti-circular outer member, a second trunk linerail having its end supported by said last mentioned hanger, a hangerdepending from each free end of said parti-circular outer member, acurved spur rail having one end supported by each of said last mentionedhangers, an inner switch tongue supporting frame located in the plane ofsaid outer supporting frame and encompassed thereby and comprising aparti-circular swinging support, a pivotally mounted bar andmeans forconnecting said swinging support and said bar, a pivot for pivotallyconnecting said bar to said cross member, rollers for moving saidswinging support on a flange of said parti-circular outer frame member,and switch tongues suspended from said inner tongue supporting frame inthe same horizontal plane as said trunk lines and said spur rails inposition to register with said trunk lines and spur rails, all of saidrails and switch tongues being located in the same plane below the planeof said outer and inner supporting frames and said pivot being locateddirectly over the end of one of said tongues, thereby constituting apivot for the tongue structure at one end of one of said tongues.

7. A 2-way left-hand monorail switch including an outer main supportingframe, an inner tongue supporting frame pivotally attached to said outermain supporting frame in the plane thereof and encompassed thereby,hangers depending from both of said frames, a straight switch tonguecarried by hangers depending from said inner tongue supporting frame, acurved switch tongue carried by hangers depending from said inner tonguesupporting frame and on the left-hand side of said straight tongue andtrunk line, and spur tracks supported by hangers depending from saidouter main supporting frame, said tongues and tracks being all locatedbe low the plane of said supporting frames, the pivot for said innertongue supporting frame being located directly over the end of one ofsaid tongues, thereby constituting a pivot for the tongue structure atone end of one of said tongues.

8. A 2-way right-hand monorail switch includ ing an outer mainsupporting frame, an inner tongue supporting frame pivotally attached toand encompassed by said outer main supporting frame in the planethereof, hangers depending from both of said frames, a straight switchtongue carried by hangers depending from said inner tongue supportingframe, a curved switch tongue carried by hangers depending from saidinner tongue supporting frame and on the righthand side of said straighttongue, and trunk line and spur tracks supported by hangers dependingfrom said outer main supporting frame all in the same plane below theplane of said supporting frames, the pivot for said inner tonguesupporting frame being located directly over the end of one of saidtongues, thereby constituting a pivot for the tongue structure at oneend of one of said tongues.

9. A 2-way monorail switch including an outer main supporting frame, aninner tongue supporting frame pivotally attached to and encompassed bysaid outer main supporting frame in the plane thereof, hangers dependingfrom both of said frames, switch tongues curved to the right and to theleft and carried by hangers depending from said inner tonguesupportingframe, and trunk line and spur tracks supported by hangersdepending from said outer main supporting frame all in the same planebelow the plane of said supporting frames, the pivot for said innertongue supporting frame being located directly over the end of one ofsaid tongues, thereby constituting a pivot for the tongue structure atone end of one of said tongues.

10. A multiple tongue monorail switch including an outer main supportingframe and an inner swinging tongue supporting frame pivotally attachedto and encompassed by said outer main supporting frame in the planethereof, hangers for the tongue structure at one end of one ofsaidtongues, a main trunk line positioned 00- register with all of saidtongues, a second main trunk line positioned to register with saidstraight switch tongue, and spur tracks positioned to register with saidcurved switch tongues, all in thesame plane below the plane of saidsupporting frames.

11. A monorail switch comprising an outer supporting frame including arim of parti-circular form and a cross bar uniting branches of said rim,an inner switch frame pivotally attached to said cross bar and includinga support of parti-circular form located in the plane of and encompassedby said outer supporting frame, rollers attached to said support totravel on the rim of the outer supporting frame, hangers depending fromsaid inner switch frame at each end thereof, switch tongues supported bysaid hangers, the pivot for said inner switch frame being locateddirectly over the end of one of said tongues, thereby constituting apivot for the tongue structure at one end of one of said tongues, atrunk track having its end supported by said supporting frame invposition for registry with all of said switch tongues, and a pluralityof tracks each having its end supported by said supporting frame inposition for registry with one of said switch tongues.

12. A monorail switch comprising an outer supporting frame including arim of parti-circular form and a cross bar uniting branches of said rim,a pivot plate secured to said cross :bar, an inner switch frameincluding a tie bar pivotally attached to said plate and a swingingsupport of parti-circular form arranged to travel on a track on saidrim, hangers depending from said inner switch frame, switch tonguessupported by said hangers, the pivot for said inner switch frame beinglocated directly over the end of one of said tongues, therebyconstituting a pivot for the tongue structure at one end of one of saidtongues, a plurality of tracks having their ends positioned for registrywith said switch tongues, and a trunk track having its end positionedfor registry with said switch tongues.

13. A monorail switch comprising an outer supporting frame including arim of parti-circular form and a crossbar, a pivot plate projecting fromsaid cross bar, an inner switch frame including a supporting .barpivotally attached to said pivot plate, a tie bar extending from saidsupporting bar and a swinging support secured to said tie bar, rollersattached to said swinging support to travel on a track on said rim,hangers depending from said swinging support and from said cross bar,switch tongues supported by said hangers, the pivot for said innerswitch frame being located directly over the end of one of said tongues,thereby constituting a pivot for the tongue structure at one end of oneof said tongues, a plurality of tracks each having its end positionedfor registry with one of said switch tongues, and a trunk track havingits end positioned for registry with any of said switch tongues.

14. A monorail switch including an outer supporting frame, an innerswitch frame pivotally attached to said outer supporting frame, aplurality of tongues including a curved switch tongue carried by saidinner switch frame, the pivot for said inner switch frame being locateddirectly over the end of one of said tongues, whereby constituting apivot for the tongue structure at one end of one of said tongues, atrunk line rail positioned for registry with all of said tongues, a spurtrack curved to conform to the curve of said curved switch tongue toreceivea trolley therefrom, and another. track to receive a trolley fromanother of said tongues.

15. A monorail switch including an outer particircular supporting frame,an inner switch frame pivotally attached to said outer supporting frame,said pivot being co-incident with the radial center of the arc of saidsupporting frame, switch tongues carried by said inner switch frame, the

,pivot for said inner switch frame being also located directly over theend of one of said tongues,

thereby constituting a pivot for the tongue 'struc ture at one end ofone of said tongues, a main trunk line positioned for registry with eachof said tongues in a switching movement of said inner switch frame, anda plurality of tracks each positioned for registry with a definite oneof said tongues in such switching movement.

16. A multiple tongue monorail switch including an outer parti-circularmain supporting frame, an inner switch frame pivotally attached to saidouter supporting frame at the radial center of the latter, a pluralityof switch tongues carried by said inner switch frame, one of saidtongues being curved on .an arc the radial center of which bears adefinite relation to said pivot to effect proper positioning of thecurved tongue for registry with another track by switching movement ofsaid inner switch frame, the pivot for said inner switch frame beinglocated directly over the end of one of said tongues, therebyconstituting a pivot for the tongue structure at one end of one of saidtongues, and a plurality of tracks each positioned to register with adefinite one of said tongues by said switching movement.

7 17. An outer supporting frame of parti-circular form, an innersegmental frame pivotally attached to said outer supporting frame at apoint co-incident with the radial center of the particircular portion ofsaid outer supporting frame, a plurality of spur tracks with their endspositioned adjacent the outer supporting frame at the pivot sidethereof, a straight trunk line rail with its end positioned adjacent theedge of the outer supporting frame at that side opposite the pivot sideof said outer frame, and a plurality of switch tongues supported by saidinner segmental frame, each of said tongues being adapted to registerwith said straight trunk line rail and also with a definite one of saidspur tracks in a switching movement of said inner segmental frame.

18. An outer supporting frame of parti-circular form, an inner segmentalframe pivotally attached to said supporting frame at a po nt coincidentwith the radial center of the parti-cir- .cular portion of the outersupporting frame, a

spur track and a trunk line rail having their ends positioned adjacentthe outer supporting frame at the pivot side thereof, a straight trunkline track with its end positioned adjacent the outer supporting frameat that side opposite the pivot side thereof, a straight tongue and acurved tongue secured to the inner segmental frame to provide throughtravel of a trolley on said trunk lines and straight tongue or from atrunk line over the curved tongue on to the spur track.

' RUSSELL E. NELLES.

